Stephanie Greiner

Ready for Change?

     You know you want to make a change, but there are too many obstacles in your way. “I don’t have time to fit one more demand into my schedule…It will cost too much money to change my diet... My husband and kids will never get on board… I’ve tried diets in the past—I will probably just put the weight back on again.”  Sound familiar? These are common obstacles (some might call them excuses) that we have all struggled with when contemplating making a change in our lives. Did you know there are 5 stages we go through when making lasting changes in our lives?


Stage 1 -You are not even aware you need to change- this is where you might be right now. OK, yes, you’ve heard a hundred times that you should drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables; but that’s for someone else, not you.

Stage 2- You are actually thinking about making a change, but you haven’t taken any action steps yet.

Stage 3- Now I’ve got your attention- you are starting to gather information about what this change might look like and how much will it cost you.

Stage 4- You are finally starting to take some action steps to reach a particular health goal. Maybe you are starting to drink more water during the day. Perhaps you have substituted your morning donut with a piece of fresh fruit. Better yet, you have called a Health Coach and scheduled your complimentary health consultation, so you can formulate a plan to reach your goals.

Stage 5- You’re in the zone—you are confidently taking consistent steps to maintain your new found wellness goals—and you feel great. You might experience an occasional set back, but when you do, you pick yourself back up and move forward. You are boldly taking additional steps to improve your health. You are excited about the new YOU and telling your friends and family about your new lifestyle.


As a health coach, I am specifically trained to help you get started on your wellness journey. I can help you stay motivated to reach for those health goals you once thought unattainable. You have what it takes to grab hold of a brighter, healthier future. I am here to help guide you and cheer you on, but you are the one who makes it happen! Call or email me today to schedule your complimentary health history consultation. I believe that together we can see those obstacles removed once and for all!!



Stephanie Greiner

Who Has Your Heart?

    When we think of the word "relationship" we picture the man or woman of our dreams, or maybe images of a romance gone sour comes to mind. Over the course of our lives we give pieces of our heart to different people through those relationships. But have you ever thought about what kind of relationship you have with the food you eat? Does that chocolate cake fill your heart to overflowing with feelings of ecstasy? Do waves of comfort and satisfaction sweep over you as you finish off those French fries? God has put within food certain nutrients that give us feelings of satisfaction, but do you feel controlled by the lure of calories and cuisine?

    Food is not only fuel for this temporary body; it is a central part of life. Think about how many of our holidays revolve around feasts, cookouts and picnics. We associate food with family, festivities and celebrations. Is it any wonder that we hold tightly to these foods that feed not only our physical bodies, but our very souls? Many people let food use and control them, rather than see food as a gift to be enjoyed and received with thanksgiving. Those tasty morsels can be harsh task masters, when they demand attention late at night. They are experts at smothering the exhilarating moment of satisfaction with the sauce of guilt and remorse. When we feel overpowered by an unhealthy craving, do we stand back and ask where it is coming from? Or do we let ourselves be led into the snare? Have we let our blood sugar drop too low, are we thirsty, bored, lonely or craving human relationship? A bag of chips is a poor substitute for an encouraging word or hug from a friend.

    So how do we break the seductive call of that late night binge? It starts by asking, "What am I using food for?" What needs are not being met through relationship and purpose? Next, we need to listen to what our body is really asking for. Are we feeding it super-sized portions of nutrient-poor food? We may feel full but not satisfied and we start reaching for snacks in an hour or two. Our eating may be tied to the hands on the clock, not to our own internal time table. Try eating only when you are hungry and stopping before you are stuffed. What is your body crying out for? Protein, warm soup, a refreshing salad? When we take time to enter into the experience of eating and not just shovel fuel into our body "machines", we can truly take pleasure in our meals with gratefulness.

    So go ahead, break up with those tyrannical goodies that seem to control your thoughts and actions. Take back your heart- nurture it and fill it with real life. Discover the joy that true freedom from food brings!
 

Stephanie Greiner

Are You Listening?

Have you ever been talking to someone and all the while, they are looking beyond you, or through you- anywhere but AT you! How frustrating and even degrading this can be!

Deep listening is healing.  It creates a unique connection between both the speaker and the listener.

Genuine listening is:

1. Focused and non-judgmental

2. Trying to understand the speaker's point of view

3. Staying focused

4. Acknowledging what is being said through nodding or occasional comments

5. Responding in love

6. Providing feedback

Are you a good listener? When was the last time you really tuned into what the other person was saying rather than thought about the next thing you were going to say? Can you think about a time you were NOT a good listener? How did you feel after the conversation?

Our most important listening "assignment" is to practice hearing the voice of our Lord. Proverbs 1:33 says, "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of eveil." By giving God our full attention while He is speaking, we can know His heart for us and become more familiar to His gentle voice.

Remember, we have two ears and only one mouth. Today, may you be not only His mouthpiece of peace, but may you truly hear with His ears the cries of those who are hurting and alone all around you.

Following the path with you...

 

Stephanie Greiner

We are created for WHOLENESS!

     God is a triune God and we are created in His image. We are spirit beings, we possess a soul, and we live in a body. God has made us as humans to live in a state of homeostasis or balance. There are many different levels of health, and people have their own perception of what state of health they are in. Levels of health can fluctuate throughout our lives and our health can constantly improve.

So what exactly is "health"? In the Jewish belief system, health, healing and wholeness were all part of the experience of living and worshipping. For them, to be healthy and whole, meant they were in right relationship to themselves, others, God and their environment. This is a foriegn concept to many of us in the west, where we tend to compartmentalize each area of life.

Today the World Health Organization defines health as "state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease."  We are all on our own individual journey in creating greater levels of health and wellness in our lives. Some continue to look for the perfect diet to help them lose weight. Others seek out help to help them stick to an exercise regimen. Still others join support groups or volunteer. The tools to help us achieve the level of wholeness we desire are as varied as the people who seek them.

Path of Life Health and Wellness exists to walk alongside you in that individualized journey, offering support and tips, recipes and nuggets of truth that I have found along my path. Let's share our stories, struggles and words of encouragment to help each other grow and flourish along this path called life.

Grace and peace on  your journey...

Stephanie Greiner

Six Month Experiment!

     Is it possible to eat healthy and loss weight on a 6-month cross country trip while living out of a suitcase and eating out every day? Well- I am in the midst of conducting one such experiment. Since leaving our home in Manheim, PA on Jan. 31, I have eaten in countless, nameless restaurants, shopped for produce at Walmart (something I never thought I'd do), cooked on a one burner stove in my hotel room, and yet I have lost 15 pounds while not dieting or starving myself! (I am not a proponent of dieting but believe that eating healthy needs to be part of a lifestyle and mindset of wellness.) Even knowing that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 6:19-20) I have never been motivated enough to be intentional about what kind of fuel I use to feed my body. Oh I was never a junk foodie, but there all kinds of levels of healthy eating. There's nothing like some less than positive blood work results to give you that hard slap across the face that is needed sometimes. And so, I began this 6 month journey with a goal in mind- well, actually more than one goal. Goal #1- to lower my cholesterol and long term sugar levels. Goal #2- to reduce and hopefully eliminate my sugar cravings. Goal #3- to establish a life long pattern of eating healthy, whole food. Goal #4- To lose enough weight so that I am within the target zone for my height and weight and so that I can retain higher energy levels throughout the day. Have I mastered any of these goals? Not yet, but I am well on my way to reaching my personal wellness goals. Stay tuned to follow my journey... I would love to hear about your own personal struggles - and victories - in this whole area of nutrition, weight management and wellness. When I arrive home in August I will be finishing up my studies to become a Health Coach so I can support others on a similar journey. Feel free to contact me for more information if you're interested in hearing about the 6-month program I offer. I would love to support you in your journey!